No let up as more rain heads for Britain

Devon, Somerset and the south-east Wales are likely to be the worst hit areas.

The Environment Agency also warned that the high winds meaning coastal defences could be overrun.

Meanwhile a man who died after being pulled from the freezing waters of a beck in the Yorkshire Dales has been named as 36-year-old Matthew Baird-Parker, from Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire

He was canoeing with friends on the Arkle Beck at Reeth when his kayak became trapped in debris.

His father Stephen Baird-Parker said: “Matthew was a very active and committed person and anything he did, he did to his full extent.

“If there was a way you could wish to die, then he would have wanted to die doing this.“

His father added: “He was exceptionally good at it and it is all he wanted to do.”

Environment Agency staff are checking flood defences across the region, clearing debris and monitoring river levels.

Eight flood warnings remain in place, including four on the River Ouse, two on the Derwent and one on the Hull.

Tidal river levels at Selby, Hull and in the East Riding are being monitored with spring tides peaking today, and the tidal barrier in Hull will close in the early hours, but the agency said it wasn’t expecting any problems.

East Riding Council said it was keeping a close eye on the situation as the immediate threat of flooding in areas like Willow Grove in Beverley receded.

Over the weekend 1,000 sandbags were used to protect homes in Beverley, and 400 others put out in Leconfield.

The council is continuing to operate pumps on Beverley Westwood, Stamford Bridge and Burton Fleming, where the council has also put up sandbag barriers at the low point near the Gypsey Race.